If I'm not completely daunted, I'm not interested.

Merlin is the unsung hero who is often responsible for things turning out positively, but rarely gets credit for that.

Hats off to Julian and Johnny, the producers, for sticking to their guns with the five-season story arc of 'Merlin'. It would have been too easy to give in to demand and stretch the show on beyond their original plan because of its incredible success.

In any kid's relationship with their parents, there's always an influence there. You always want to do them proud.

I think, as a kid, whenever you say you want to be an actor, you get discouraged, so perhaps if I had have listened to those people telling me that, I might have gone down the route of a teacher. But I was never really going to do that.

I always look for the character that gets into your guts and tells you, 'You have to play this.' You have to be brave enough to let everything else go and let the character guide you. When I read a script, I look for that kind of pull.

It doesn't have to happen for anybody at all, this acting game, so you have to count your blessings. If I am lucky that the right things have come along at the right time, I'm just going to ride that wave.

Allan Cubitt has written exceptional material, and I feel very privileged to be working with him and the very talented cast.

Doors that presented themselves before, which I couldn't walk through, are at least there. And there are a few keyholes I can pick.

You always want to be part of something you're so passionate about.